Demand for fashionable condoms in the world’s biggest market and for cold remedies in the West lifted Reckitt’s profits

It may have something to do with the Hello Kitty-style soft pastel packaging,
or the helpfully suggestive “Hug Close” and “Bold Love” branding, but
surging Chinese demand for Durex condoms has helped to increase Reckitt
Benckiser’s annual profits by 3 per cent.

The health and hygiene giant, which also makes Nurofen and Strepsils, said
that operating profits in 2012 had risen to £2.57 billion, largely on the
back of the outperformance of its emerging markets.

China was a star, with sales of condoms rising significantly. Durex now has a
43 per cent share of the Chinese market, according to Nielsen